As Durga Puja ends on excessive word, Bangladesh’s Hindus thank PM Sheikh Hasina

After final 12 months’s violence throughout Durga Puja, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina took main steps to make sure that Hindus get to have a good time the pageant safely this 12 months.

A Durga Puja mandap in Bangladesh

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: The immersion of the idols of Goddess Durga in rivers and lakes throughout Bangladesh final week led to an finish to the most important pageant for the countrys 160 million Hindus, due to extra safety measures. The further layers of safety had been put in place within the wake of final years violence that marred the festivities and despatched ripples among the many neighborhood.

Security was particularly boosted in Cumilla the place communal violence broke out final 12 months throughout Durga Puja. However, this years media stories highlighted the return of the fanfare and festivity amongst Hindus. As many as 794 Puja mandaps had been arrange within the district this 12 months, in keeping with Bangladeshs main information wire service UNB.

A FESTIVAL FOR ALL

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the countrys longest-serving Prime Minister and president of the countrys secular celebration Awami League, ensured that no untoward incident occurred throughout the pageant and warranted the neighborhood leaders of her unequivocal assist to forestall violence this 12 months.

On the eve of Durga Puja, Sheikh Hasina prolonged her greetings to the Hindu neighborhood. In her message, on October 1 (Mahashasthi), Sheikh Hasina stated that Durga Puja shouldn’t be a pageant of simply the Hindus. It is now a common pageant. All Bangladeshis have a good time each non secular pageant collectively and consider within the mantra Religion is for people, festivals are for all.

Just forward of the graduation of Durga Puja. Law enforcers had been seen assembly leaders of the Hindu neighborhood. CCTV cameras had been maintained at nearly each temple. The presence of Bangladesh Ansar members and the frequent patrolling of police performed an enormous function in stopping violence. Bangladesh Ansar is a paramilitary drive that takes care of the interior safety and legislation enforcement within the nation.

32,000 PANDALS AND RISK OF MILITANT ATTACKS

Despite the chance of assaults by radical forces, Durga Puja was celebrated at a file 32,168 mandaps throughout the nation this 12 months, together with 241 within the capital. In an interview with UNB, Superintendent of Cumilla Police Md Abdul Mannan warned folks in opposition to spreading rumours.

Anti-liberation forces can use faith to take political benefit. So, we should be cautious about them and face them unitedly, he stated.

On prime of that, days forward of Puja, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam additionally cautioned folks in opposition to extremists. Around 50 folks suspected of being concerned with extremist outfits have gone lacking over the past month, growing the chance of assaults throughout Durga Puja. Law enforcement and intelligence businesses have been working to hint them and their coaching hideouts, Shafiqul was quoted as saying by the countrys media.

Another key transfer to assist the Hindus safely have a good time the event in concord was how Awami League leaders and activists had been requested to face guard at temples. Dhormo jaar jaar, uthsob shobar (pageant is common irrespective of faith), a slogan promoted among the many public and on social media by Hasinas Awami League, has been one of many key parts that motivated folks to maintain violence at bay.

HINDUS EXTEND GRATITUDE TOWARDS SHEIKH HASINA

Right after the Durga Puja festivities ended on a excessive word, members of the Bangladeshi Hindu neighborhood prolonged their gratitude to PM Sheikh Hasina for her lively function in guaranteeing secure celebrations.

Minorities have all the time been a smooth goal for events like BNP and its all-weather ally Jamaat-e-Islami. Under the rule of the countrys first navy dictator and founding father of the BNP Gen Ziaur Rahman and later beneath one other navy ruler, HM Ershad the nation noticed secularism take a backseat and the set up of Islam because the state faith via Constitutional amendments.

The final BNP-Jamaat regime between 2001 and 2006 noticed unprecedented assaults on minorities, that concerned rape, land grabbing, and burning folks alive because the alliance deemed Hindus pro-Awami League, in keeping with media stories.

The Bangladesh Puja Celebration Parishad thanked the Prime Minister for the peaceable completion of Durga Puja this 12 months. The organisation’s president JL Bhowmik and normal secretary Chandranath Poddar thanked the Prime Minister. Without her assist, such peaceable completion of the Durga Puja wouldnt have been attainable, he stated.